I couldn't resist making a Christmassy version of Homely Joys complete with little Christmas trees. If you're tempted too, here's how I did it...
For each tree you will need three 4½" squares, six 3" x 5" pieces of background fabric, plus a 1" x 2 1/2" piece for your trunk and two background pieces of 2¼" x 2½"...
Make three triangle-in-a-square units and join a piece of the background fabric to each side of your trunk, using a ¼" seam...
Cut 2" from the top of the unit chosen for your bottom branches...
Cut 1" from both top and bottom of the unit chosen for your middle branches...
Cut 2" from the bottom of the unit chosen for your top branches...
You should have four 2½" x 4½" units ready to assemble...
Using a ¼" seam, assemble your tree, pressing seams towards the top branches (your block should measure 4½" x 8½") Now have a mince pie: you've earned it...
If you are working from the Homely Joys pattern you will need to make the following alterations:-
MATERIALS
You will need an additional 3 10" squares from your Layer Cake (35 in total) or - if there aren't many greens - a Fat Quarter, which will yield 16 4½" squares. You will also need 1¾ yds of fabric for your 'Garden' blocks, rather than the 1¼ yds listed in the pattern.
STEP 3
You will need to choose 6 layers - or your additional Fat Quarter - for the trees...
STEP 6
OMIT cutting the 1" x WOF strip from your 'Garden' fabric and, instead, cut 6 3" x WOF strips and subcut them into 48 3" x 5" pieces...
OMIT STEPS 22 & 24 and make 24 triangle-in-a-square units as shown above (and described in STEPS 14-17 in your pattern)...
Finish your 'Garden' blocks as described in STEPS 27 & 28...
{A progress shot of my Christmassy version of 'Homely Joys' made with the gorgeous 'Little Joys' by Elea Lutz for Penny Rose Fabrics mixed with my favourite 'Tilda' basics}
{...and finished just in time for Valentine's Day or fabulouosly early for next Christmas: you decide ;-)...}
EDIT: There's a printable PDF of this tutorial that you can download, here...
Nicola xx